The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-20
A CORN -SHUCKING"
AWAY DOWN IN GEORGIA IN OLD
PLANTATION DAYS.
The Gathering Notwithstanding a Leader
Keeping Time to Song and Chorus
Pepper Joe's "BIessin' THE
Banquet Table.
al ". FoIsom in Valdosta G. Times.I

M. NJ Folsom in valdosta GA Times.I
suppose our Yanke friends would
call it "husking bee, as they are wont
to call other such gatherings "paring
bees, F" quilting bees, etc, etc But we
call it corn shucking. You must i'm
agine that it is early autumn. The foil
age of the distant woodlands have taken
on all the variegated colors of the rain
bow. There are gum trees and naples
whose tops are one sheet of flame. oaks
and towering hickories crowned with a
mass of orange and golden colored leaves.
The persimmon trees are loaded with
their luscious fruit and the late summer
grapes hang in rich purple clusters along
the fence rows next to the swamp. The
pines alone are not affected by the change
of season. They rise, gaunt and grim,
their somber foliage taking on a deeper
tint by the contrast of colors.
The broad fields of cotton are white as
snow, and only the "slip shucks" remain
on the stalks where lately hung pendant
the lusty ears of golden corn which are
now piled in a semi-circle inside the barn
yard Day after day the loaded wagons
have deposited their precious freight on
the growing pile, until now it forms
rampant high enough to conceal man,
and long enough to allow 100 men to seat
themselves along its line. Invitations
have been sent TO all the neighboring
farms, and as the dusk deepens and the
first timid stars raise the purple curtain
and gaze timidy down on the beautiful
earth, they begin to drop in, singly, in
pairs and in small parties They are
mostly big. brawny darkies with phenom-
email lung power. intermiXed with fair
sprinkling of hardy farmers and young
massas who have either received permits
sion, or have run away to enjoy the festive
frolic
Now there is considerable discussion
I,
acknowledged leader, and each party
stoutly maintains the excellency of its
own favorite. Charlie Green is finally
chosen, and Selling long ear of corn he
mounts the corn pile pulls his hat and
bows low to the boss" and to his audi
tors and followers and then strikes up
his wild song;
"Ol dey's one ting a POI man sildom eber do,
Frow out de ole con to frow in de new.
OF ralley roun' de CON pile
Hoo jolly hO
Ralley round de CON pile,
Hoo jolly hOl"
All hands join in the chorus, and the
rustling of the shucks, and steady patter-
ing of the clean ears as they are tossed
into the open space in front, makes a
spirited accompaniment to the weird
music. Up and down, back and forth,
the leader treads the corn pile, singing at
the top of his voice and swaying hands
and arms, head and body, in time TO his
music. All are careful not to hit him,
and he seems to pay no heed to the shower
of ears that is flying around his head.
From Sat'd'y night twell Sunday,
De gals is my MINI
But Monday mornln bright an soon,
De white man got me gwine.
Oh! git er long down de road,
Oh git er long down de road,
Come git er long down de road, my hub,
Come git er long down de road.
The pile of rough corn diminishes
rapidly, the shucks are being carried
away by the boys who have some high old
times practicing gymnastics on the yield
ing pile, the glistening ears fall thick and
fast on the accommodating pile of clean
corn.
There has been an increasing light in
the east for some minutes, and now the
full autumn moon arises above the tree
tops, and glides up the purple sky in all
her majestic and bewildering splendor.
By her light we see the dusky faces, and
the fantastic movements of the long row
of brawny arms that are busiy working,
all unconscious of the hardness of the Ia
Dor, so interested are they in the songs of
the leader.
suddenly, at a signal from Charlie, all
hands stop, and the "OId Marster" ap
proaches the leader with a fat looking
brown jug and a tin cup He speaks
word to Charlie. who makes Obeisance,
and in loud voice calls out:
"SilenCe! Gemlen an friends: I drinks
dis to de heat oh de good marster, de
mistis', de young marster, de young
happy" Amid prolonged cheers the
toast is drank first by Charlie and
then the jug is passed along the line, each
man drinking his specs to de marster
and de mistis;" should the first give out
another is put in the hands of the servitor
and particular pains is taken to see that
all are treated alike. Then the leader
strikes up:
Foty weight o. Johnny cake,
~ Fifty weight o cheese,
big pot o hominy,
An a little pot o. peas
o! Jenny, amt yo' ash cake done my
darlin'2
Jenny amt yo' ash cake done, my deah7
Away they go, and the laugh and song,
included with jests at the expense of the
leader, who is sure to be ready with fit
ting rapaTtee, are kept up until the last
nubbin is shucked.
Then comes the tug of war. For some
time there has been waited on the breeze,
from the great kitchen most delicious
aroma Now the tables are laid with a
bounteous repast for the white neighbors
in doors For the darkies. who are largely
In the majority, long tables have been i'm
provised beneath the great trees in the
yard. Large fires are klndled so that the
tables are well lighted, and buxom servant
maids cast long sideglances at certain
bashful-looking SWANS of dusky hue as
they move around briskly piling up and
arranging the loaves of brown bread and
the dishes of meat, potatoes, vegetables
and other etceteras. Charlie directs the
movements of the banqueters. and they
are soon ranged along each side Of the
long table.
FLATS off. boys, an 'tention while Pop
per Joe axes de b,essin' A venerable
negro whose woolly locks are scant and
gray, approaches the head of the board.
Slowly and reverently he lifts his palsied
and withered hands. All heads are in
stantly bowed in reverence
Der of dis feas' Bress i'm in baskit an
In Stnra Rrnss q fam bly, an e servants